Nick Rahall: “We in West Virginia understand well the need for this ``Make it in America'' initiative. Even as we diversify, from…”

“We in West Virginia understand well the need for this ``Make it in America'' initiative. Even as we diversify, from broadband infrastructure to tourism marketing, we all know what the manufacturing center means for good paying jobs. The leap from a hard days work, producing the best products in the world, to a service-based industry is a far stretch--one that leaves our national security at risk. The House Democrats understand the need for a plan and action to increase American manufacturing and create new American jobs. When we ``Make It in America,'' we create jobs to lead the world economy. First and foremost, we must ensure that every nook and cranny of the federal government is geared towards American products, American companies and American workers. In 2007, the Defense Department alone allowed over 14,000 contracts for goods and services to go to foreign companies. That's $5.7 billion American tax dollars we waved goodbye to. We've got to shut the floodgates on the tidal wave of taxpayer's dollars flowing overseas, and shore up our contracts for goods and services bought by the federal government and provided by American workers. I'm a long time advocate for `Buy American' provisions in law, but a concentrated effort will sharpen the focus on a fair deal for our workers and small business and industries. A global economy doesn't mean a one way trade route for American capital.”